Minnesota Fishing Report
Hello fall-time anglers and those of you who often think about fall-time fishing but never quite make it to the lake. Get here. Come to Otter Tail Lakes Country right now. Itโs very pretty. Otter Tail Lakes Country is studded with bands and groves of maple trees and man are they a sightโall over the county. And thereโs no better place to view our bright fall colors then from your boat catching crappies, walleye, or bass. The fishing the past few weeks has been second to none. Walleye continue to feed heavy trying to fill up but they have been insatiable. Use bright colors as the fall tinted water on most of Otter Tail Lakes Countyโs lakes has changed the fishโs visual cues since spring and summer. Also, donโt be afraid to use large minnows and baits. If you were catching walleye on medium leeches 5 or 6 weeks ago, those fish have since become interested in minnows that are 3-6 inches long.
The water temps have dropped significantly latelyโmost lakes are seeing temps in the low 50โs. Search for panfish deep. Itโs not uncommon to find them in 20-30 feet of waterโespecially in our smaller lakes where the max depths are around 30 feet. I usually try horizontal presentations to try and locate schools of panfish. If I mark some and donโt get bit, I toss a marker and jump into a vertical presentation. Unlike walleye and northern and bass who might want larger baits right now, Iโd still recommend being conservative with panfishโkeep jig weights at around 1/32 or 1/16 in deeper waterโbut thatโs it. Check weed edges near drop offs for bass and donโt be afraid to fish larger luresโbig plastics and big spinner baits etc. Get to Otter Tail Lakes Country and get on one of our 1,100 lakes and see fallโs beauty from the water, itโs really great. Good luck.
By Ross Hagemeister, Meister Guide Service, meisterguideservice.com